Messiah escapes constant Kenyon pressure

GRANTHAM, Pa. -- A 2-1 loss to the Messiah University Falcons was certainly not the result the Kenyon College men's soccer team deserved Sunday afternoon. Although they outplayed the Falcons on their home turf for the majority of the game, the Lords were eliminated from the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament following the tough second-round battle.

Messiah benefited from a penalty in the first half and a good run down the left side in the second half to hold off the Lords. Kenyon outshot the Falcons 18-7 and posted an 8-3 margin in corner kicks. Eight of Kenyon's shots were on goal. Messiah had just two shots on goal, with both finding the net.

Messiah's first goal developed off some physical play in the box in which a Kenyon defender was whistled for pulling down a Falcon player. That call yielded a Messiah penalty kick that was converted by Lucas Kokolios. He directed his shot low and right. Kenyon goalkeeper Jack Pedreschi guessed right on the location, but his outstretched arms just didn't get to the ball in time.

The Kenyon men had two great opportunities off corner kicks in the first half. The first occurred in the game's eighth minute when a header from Johan Johannsson was on target, but saved by Messiah goalkeeper Jared Pavlovich. In the 25th minute, it was Aidan Burns who headed a ball off a corner, but his attempt floated just wide of the right post.

One minute after Burns' attempt, Sam Carson took control in the box. He wound up for a left-footed shot at close range, but didn't get all of it and Pavlovich was presented with a slow roller that he gobbled up.

In the second half, Gerardo Martinez caught fire for Kenyon. About seven minutes in, he put a drive on net, but was denied by a diving Pavlovich. About 13 minutes later, Martinez broke through. His shot from inside the box was blocked by a Falcon defender, but the rebound came right back to Martinez and he didn't miss a second time.

With the score tied, 1-1, and about 24 minutes left in regulation, Kenyon kept its foot on the gas pedal. In the 75th minute, a close-range shot from Eamon Dujakovich zipped wide left, but created a corner kick. The inbound from the corner went right to Sam Hosmer-Quint, but his header bounced off the crossbar.

In the 83rd minute, Carson unleashed another shot, only to be stopped by a diving Pavlovich, who finished the game with seven saves.

Following a Messiah goal kick in the 84th minute, the Falcons took control and got the ball up to Matt McDonald. He made a run up the left side, flicked a pass to his right and found Ben Lefever, who ended up burying the game-winner into the lower left corner of the Kenyon net.

In a frantic finish, Kenyon got one final opportunity when Sebastian Gaese had a turnaround shot in the box, but it bounced off the left post as time expired.

The loss put the Lords' final record at 16-3-1. Messiah moved to 18-1-2 and will advance to play Hanover College in the third round.

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Players Mentioned

#19 Aidan Burns: D; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#4 Sam Carson: F; 5' 8"; Senior

#16 Sebastian Gaese: F; 6' 3"; Junior

#5 Sam Hosmer-Quint: D; 6' 2"; Senior

#2 Johan Johannsson: M; 6' 0"; Junior

#18 Eamon Dujakovich: F; 5' 9"; First-Year

#8 Gerardo Martinez: M; 5' 7"; First-Year

#1 Jack Pedreschi: GK; 6' 5"; First-Year

Players Mentioned

#19 Aidan Burns
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: D

#4 Sam Carson
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F

#16 Sebastian Gaese
: 6' 3"; Junior
: F

#5 Sam Hosmer-Quint
: 6' 2"; Senior
: D

#2 Johan Johannsson
: 6' 0"; Junior
: M

#18 Eamon Dujakovich
: 5' 9"; First-Year
: F

#8 Gerardo Martinez
: 5' 7"; First-Year
: M

#1 Jack Pedreschi
: 6' 5"; First-Year
: GK